Does anyone remember the beginning of free agency in football? A player had to SUE to get it. And that player, Reggie White, was one of the best (if not THE best defensive player to ever play the game). It had to start with someone like him - there had to be a desire from other teams to play for them.

But, this industry doesn't have a Reggie White. In fact, it doesn't have a rating system of pilots at all. If you're good enough to pass your sim and line checks, you're good enough period. So, the one outstanding industry wide staple that will never die is seniority. While being somewhat beneficial to labor, it's the best thing in the world for airline management. In fact, the whole industry could fail before seniority be trumped.

While we have that, EVERY comment about leaving your airline for another after years AT that airline are ridiculous. Insulting in fact. Especially if you talk to a pilot who was hired when an airline was great (like Frontier) but later turned $hitty for reasons beyond that pilot's control.

Suffice it to say that if the industry didn't have a seniority system, the current F9 wouldn't exist...

And just so you know, I'm not miserable. Just informed. And aware. Making $300k a year is great but if it's less than others who do the same job but have better work conditions while doing it, I tend to speak out about that and do what I can to improve my own lot.